I lived for this. Funny, romantic, and weirdly emotional for a book that started off feeling like a parody. There's heart beneath the chaos, and the chemistry? Chef’s kiss. If you love fantasy romances that don’t take themselves too seriously, this one’s for you.

#IndigoEmployee

My Rating: 5 stars!!!!

I trust Jester Lavorre’s book recommendations with my life 🍭

As someone who has experienced all the “Tusk Love” jokes in the Critical Role community, getting to actually read it was mind boggling, and I loved every second of it. Gwen was this kind yet sheltered woman off to see the world in a way that I could only call Rapunzel from Tangled (❤️) with grumpy yet large puppy Oskar by her side. I loved the two of them together, I thought their journey to be fun and their relationship adorable, and I loved the side characters met along the way who all made such interesting additions. And the steamy scenes, they sure were steamy.

Absolutely obsessed.

What a romp! This book was everything I hoped it would be as a fan of Thea Guanzon, Critical Role and all things Dungeons and Dragons.

The two main characters are lovable and so cute together. I liked the pacing, side characters and the fairly low stakes plot. It was a cosy vibe. I sort of want a book around each of the side characters now, please?

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced digital copy.

Omgz, I loved this cover. I couldn't resist!

As far as the book, this is a weird one for me to review, because despite some tropes and cliches that I generally don't like, I really did like this book. It's a light and easy read. The two main characters are both kind and considerate to each other. There's some light adventure and some surprisingly insightful moments.

Now, I will note that I generally don't like grumpy/sunshine books, because the men tend to be toxic or borderline toxic. And yuck, let's not bolster the idea that it's okay for men to be toxic. And the whole damsel-in-distress thing is overdone and perpetuates the idea that women are weak and need men to save them. BUT this book somehow pulled it off in a way that didn't feel particularly damning to either gender. The characters were both very lovable, albeit in entirely different ways.

The plot was a bit thin, and the intimacy felt rushed—it happened too soon and too frequently, and it was always over in a blink. Still, I enjoyed the various challenges that the characters faced. And, particularly towards the end, there were some good life lessons. Superficially, this is a book about...lust. But really the subtext is much deeper. This is a book about personal growth, following your heart, and letting go of toxic relationships, no matter how much it hurts.

Yeah, I kinda loved this one. Fast and freeing. Sweet and cozy. I would definitely read more if this book becomes a series.

Y’all… listen to me when I say this is the best romantic fantasy book of the year!!!! 6 ⭐️!! It has absolutely everything you could want - perfect pacing, descriptive world building, fully fleshed-out characters, humor, multiple unique spicy scenes, an empowered FMC who is both soft and strong, and a devilishly handsome MMC who is in touch with his feelings?! You better believe I’ve already pre-ordered this book and will be rereading it as soon as it’s published this summer. I can’t wait to return to this love story again and again.

- Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review! -

This book was so fun! If you love very spicy romance fantasy books then you will love this book! I highly recommend it!

A fast-paced, romantic (very spicy), and humorous adventure! The nods towards the multiple critical role references were satisfying to spot and the author included some amazing one-liners that were incredibly critical role-coded. A definite recommendation for anyone who wants a funny, deeply romantic and spicy fantasy read!

Tusk Love is a fantasy romance with maybe a three to four-chili spice level. We see strong character development for both male and female protagonists throughout the novel, with some accompanying tragic backstory to really drive the positive changes home. Maybe I read this too soon after finishing Monsoon Rising, but I was expecting the chemistry between the lead characters to be similar to that of Alaric and Talasyn. I found the chemistry to be a bit rushed and not convincing. The writing styles also felt inconsistent at times, reading like a classical novella in some parts and a modern love story in another. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the adventures of Guinevere and Oskar and I find myself wanting to know more about the "Tusk Love Universe."

the speed at which I requested this title just by seeing the text alone and instantly hearing Laura Bailey's dramatic reading of Tusk Love in my brain....

y'all, i have a hate-hate relationship to most of the Critical Role novels. I was bored by the Lucien book, and I didn't feel like the Vex&Vax book was well-written, but THIS. This was everything I could have wanted a book based on an in-universe bit could have been the way Matt Mercer first described the group stumbling upon it in the campaign. It's fun, romantic, with just enough Critical Role nods to make a fan feel at home.

You don't necessarily need to know much about the Mighty Nine to read this book, though the location names may confuse you. I think a rudimentary knowledge of D&D or general fantasy tropes would be enough for a newcomer to understand and enjoy this read.

Before I give you my thoughts, I must preface this: I am a HUGE Critical Role fan. I have been for the last 8 years. My sister asked me to start catching up with the episodes of Campaign 1. By the time I had caught up, Campaign 2 was in full swing. Jester is my favourite CR2 character, and the first mention of 'Tusk Love' had me in stitches. Of course, the lore of Tusk Love grew arms and legs, but so did that tiny voice in the back of my head saying, "God, I would love to read this book!"

But now it's real, and it was a joy to read. I struggled to put it down. Every single thing that Laura, Matt, or the rest of the table improvised about the book's plot has been taken by Guanzon and woven into the real thing. I think you would read the book at face value if you didn't know much about Critical Role. But for the fans, there are so many references to the world of Exandria as created by Matthew Mercer that you can tell that Guanzon is a real fan, making the book an exceptional experience for Critters.

As for the plot itself - it's a light-hearted and fun book that, whilst being easier to understand if you are a Critter, would be enjoyable for anyone. It's undoubtedly more romance than fantasy, so if you go into the experience of reading this book with that in mind, it will deliver that romance that leans into some of my personal favourite tropes - grumpy x sunshine, forced proximity, slow-burn romance, one-bed-at-the-inn, and forbidden love. But that doesn't mean romance is the only plot point! The characters each have their struggles in this story, which allows for clear character development.

I'm so grateful to have read this book, and 2017 me would be so jealous!!

I wish this site would let me put more than 5 stars. You know an author is great at what they do when they can write completely different stories and knock it oit of the park every. single. time. Thea has such a great way of bringing life to her characters. She also has the best banter!

The slow burn pining back and forth was just spectacular. I love Guin and Oskar so much and need another book about them ASAP!

One of my guilty secrets is that I really enjoy Orc’s as main character, don’t know why, but that is it. The MMC is a half Orc on a quest to go visit his mother’s family, but stumbles on a “damsel in distress”, although she didn’t need that much help in the end. He ends up helping her complete her trip to meet her parents and her new betrothed, because trouble just seems to be following her.

I really enjoyed this read. The banter was fun, and the slow burn romance from tolerating one another to realising that they’ve fallen in love was good as well.

Thank you for this eARC!

I love Critical Role, and all things Vox, and Thea's other novels.

Unfortunately this kind of felt all over the place, I wasn't super invested until the very end, and even then I'm not sure I would have kept going if I didn't feel a sense of obligation.

There wasn't one particular reason, it just felt kind of all over the place.

The FMC was very flat, I LOVED Oskar, but he frankly deserved better and more of a story redemption or I'm not sure just more. With that said, I recognize that this world isn't meant to give all, and most if not all CR and Vox characters have tragic backstories.

The FMC had this outstanding power, but I feel like we barely got to see it, and when we did it was brief and never truly explained.

I did love the world and travel aspect, and I LOVED that all animals stayed whole and healthy because Pudding and Vindicator were my favorite characters, so thank you Thea.
Overall, this WAS a cozy, sexy, comfy read, and I'd definitely recommend it for fans of cozy, low stakes and especially for fans of things like Vox - with the exception of knowing this is low stakes and cozy.

Tush Love (Critical Role) is a fantastic cozy fantasy romance novel! The world-building, plot, and characters are all very well written and developed.

I absolutely loved Gwen and Oskar’s relationship. It was fun to see the rescuer/rescuee change into something more sweet. And to see a sweetheart like Gwen picking away at Oskar’s gloomy and hard exterior had me laughing until the end. The mystery and magic at the end of their story was the perfect cherry on top because I was dying to know what was in the trunk throughout the journey.

Overall, Tusk Love is the perfect blend of action and romance with a HEA ending and characters you will love!

Thank you to both NetGalley and Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore for providing the eARC.

What started as a cheeky in-world joke from Critical Role turned out to be one of the most unexpectedly tender and fun reads I’ve had in a while. Yes, it’s absolutely ridiculous in the best way. We’re talking orc-elf forbidden romance, passionate rendezvous, and enough drama to make a bard blush. But there’s also something incredibly sweet about it.

I found myself genuinely rooting for the characters. Their love story, wild as it is, touches on themes of acceptance, vulnerability, and breaking down walls, emotional and otherwise. The writing may be playful and a little over-the-top, but it never loses its heart.

I was giggling and kicking my feet through the entire book. Whether you’re a longtime Critter (iykyk) or just someone looking for a fantasy romance that’s equal parts spicy and sweet, I can’t recommend it enough. Honestly, I didn’t expect to love Tusk Love... but I tusk-loved it.

Thank you to DelreyUK and NetGalley for the e-ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is the first book I’ve read by Thea Guanzon and it certainly won’t be the last! Thea is a phenomenal writer and did a wonderful job bringing the story of Oskar and Guinevere to life. For context, Tusk Love is a fictional romance novel within the world of Critical Role, the popular Dungeons & Dragons actual play series. The story follows Guinevere, a sheltered merchant’s daughter, and Oskar, a brooding half-orc, as they navigate danger and desire on the Amber Road.

Tusk Love is the classic grumpy meets sunshine tale, jam packed with swoon-worthy romance, action, witty banter and those heartwarming “awwwww” moments. I lost count of how many times I squeaked in excitement as Guinevere and Oskar (mostly unwillingly) stumble into unexpected, unconventional friendships. It’s through these connections that one of my favourite tropes, found family, begins to blossom to life. I love the dynamic between Oskar and Guinevere, their personalities complement each other so well. It’s very much giving Beauty and the Beast vibes!

All in all, a wonderful read. For my D&D and gamer girlies who enjoy cozy reads, spice (and orcs 😉), this one will be right up your alley!

Public review:

4.5 stars

Stages of reading this book:

1) Low key judge the book by its cover.

2) Hmm.. I do love the author… and now that I actually look at the cover, it seems cute and…cozy?

3) Gets approved for an ARC from NetGalley so I ~have~ to read it.

4) This book is….. delightful! So funny and definitely cozy — but adventurous at the same time.

5) Is this monster smut? Am I a monster smut girlie now?

6) I would die for Oskar.

7) Absolutely converted. I apologize for my ignorance. I will read everything Thea Guanzon writes— she knows me better than I know myself.

8) Next step is to convince my friend to read it and live text me their giddy reactions.


Private feedback:

-I thought the dialogue was the perfect amount of cheesy until it got too much. I had some cringe reactions to the dialogue.

-I feel like Oskar’s longing was better written than Guenivwre. I wanted to see more of Guenivwre’s POV on her developing/realizing feelings.

-I didn’t like how quickly lord W turned villain. I do love the idea but I feel like the execution needs more foreshadowing or peeks into W’s character.

A light hearted, sweet and super fun romance peppered with lots of swoonworthy moments!, this was everything I wanted and more, loved the critical role aspect and how Thea expanded upon it, I'm sad I've finished it I might reread it I loved it that much!

This was perfect! As a big fan of Critical Role it was nice to see the lore accurate descriptions of characters, places, etc. Every part of this story was gripping and exciting, the little moments were swoon-worthy, the side characters added to the story, and the plot had a fun twist. I wish we had gotten to see more of Teinidh because she was a fiery little thing!

Thank you Del Rey & NetGalley for the ARC!

PERFECT. Thea Guanzon understood the assignment and nailed it. Sweet, fun, adventurous, a book that doesn’t take itself too seriously but somehow still drives its point about love, social class, greed, and freedom, home.